Three Indian-origin persons have been convicted by a California court for their alleged involvement in a massive cocaine smuggling operation and its distribution to the Asian gang members in Toronto in Canada.

The Drug Enforcement Administration alleged that one of them Harjeet Mann (50), a Canadian national residing in Bakersfield, California, was leader of a cocaine smuggling operation that transported large quantities of cocaine in semi-tractor trailers to Canada for distribution to Asian gang members in the Toronto area.

Sukhraj Dhaliwal (39) of Bakersfield and Gurmeet Bisla (29) of Livingston have been charged for conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute a large quantity of cocaine.

Mann and Dhaliwal were convicted of attempting to possess with intent to distribute 70 kilograms of cocaine following their delivery of approximately USD 843,000 in cash to an undercover narcotics agent.

The jury verdict in this regard was delivered by Senior United States District Judge Oliver W Wanger last week.

He also ordered forfeiture of the seized USD 1,011,068 US currency that represented proceeds or monies used to facilitate drug trafficking. In addition, USD 52,669 seized from Mann's bank accounts was previously forfeited administratively by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).